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Reds done in Sarasota?

SARASOTA -- The Cincinnati Reds want to stay in Sarasota, but team executives say $10 million is as much as they will pay for a new spring training stadium here.

The news comes a week after city commissioners demanded that the Reds increase their contribution, saying that the deal for the $54 million stadium could be dead if the team doesn't come up with more cash.

In a letter received by city leaders Monday, Reds Chief Operating Officer John L. Allen emphasized the team's desire to make a "long-term commitment" to Sarasota, and remained hopeful that the city would find a way to dedicate enough money to make the stadium work.

"At this point, I think the question that the city has to ask itself, 'Does Sarasota want to have Major League Spring Training in our community?'" Allen wrote.

It's a question that the city commissioners will have to answer next week. While city leaders were dismayed at the letter, staffers are looking at ways to either reduce the estimated $26 million cost to the city, cut down on the size of the stadium project or reach out to a private donor.

The letter was the latest piece of a difficult negotiation process on funding the state-of-the-art stadium.

"This is not good news," said Palmer, whose birthday was Monday. "It's a sad birthday for me."

City and team officials have spent three years lobbying state legislators for money toward the effort. They were finally successful this year, when Gov. Jeb Bush signed a bill that could provide $7 million for the stadium.

Coming up with the rest of the money -- and drawing up a detailed financial plan in just three months -- has been more difficult than anyone imagined.

The proposed facility is set to be near Ed Smith Stadium, on 12th Street.

The Reds began by offering $3 million toward a new stadium, then went up to $5.9 million, and finally to $10 million last week.

"We have met the city's wishes to increase our participation ... and have doubled our commitment from approximately 10 percent to 20 percent of the estimated construction costs," Allen wrote. "While $10 million may not seem to be a huge commitment to some, it needs to be measured in the context of the Major League Baseball industry."

Allen went on to say that only two teams have come up with comparable contributions for spring training stadiums: the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies. And both teams were from "large market teams unlike the Reds," he wrote.

He said that the Reds had "carefully analyzed" the contribution, and ruled that $10 million was going to be the limit.

That would leave the city's share to be about $26 million. City staffers suggested increasing property taxes to come up with that kind of money. A half-cent tourist tax would provide an additional $15 million.

Commissioners did not want to hear it. Raising taxes for a new sports stadium would be unacceptable, they said, sending staffers back to negotiate with the Reds.

"I just don't think the city is going to be able to come up with $26 million," Palmer said. "There's just no way that's going to happen."

The commissioners will discuss the deal when they meet on Monday. Pat Calhoon, the city's sports facilities manager, said staffers may have "overstated" the cost to the city. The figure of $26 million was a "worst-case scenario," and he and the finance director are looking at ways to reduce that number.

He said he's trying to see whether there are any private citizens who want to be a "major part" of the new stadium. He'll also be talking to Reds officials to see if they would accept a scaled-down project.

"We'll work feverishly at this, leading right up to Monday's meeting," he said.

Originally Posted by PuffyPig

Let's face it, you mis-hit the bun with the mustard squirter, no one will really care.

Re: Reds done in Sarasota?

I doubt that the Reds are as close to folding up the tent in Sarasota as John Allen wants the Sarasotans to think. Unless there's something simmering in Arizona that we don't know about, there is no Plan B here.

Since a chunk of the stadium funding is coming from the state, the Guv won't make any friends around his state by having cities compete against each other to reel in a team with the promise of state funding to the victor. At the same time, I don't think the Reds will walk away from a deal that has so many dollars that aren't theirs on the table. This is mostly about the team fighting over how many of its dollars will go on that table.

Re: Reds done in Sarasota?

Re: Reds done in Sarasota?

Originally Posted by KronoRed

The Reds should never ever be in Arizona

It would be..not right

While I know some of the clubs in the east are in Arizona now (Chicago, Milwaukee, Cleveland), I believe it would be a bad business move for the Reds. The three clubs noted above are all a good 250 to 450 miles further from Florida than Cincinnati. A Tampa or a Sarasota is between 1200 and 1400 miles from those citys. It's just around 1000 miles from Cincinnati, no more than a two day trip, although there are folks that will share driving and drive straight through. That's not going to happen in Arizona.

Re: Reds done in Sarasota?

Originally Posted by redsmetz

While I know some of the clubs in the east are in Arizona now (Chicago, Milwaukee, Cleveland), I believe it would be a bad business move for the Reds. The three clubs noted above are all a good 250 to 450 miles further from Florida than Cincinnati. A Tampa or a Sarasota is between 1200 and 1400 miles from those citys. It's just around 1000 miles from Cincinnati, no more than a two day trip, although there are folks that will share driving and drive straight through. That's not going to happen in Arizona.

You know I've heard this argument made several times on this board and I'm still not buying it.

Mapquest tells me from Cincy to Phoenix is around 1850 miles. About the same distance it tells me it is from Chicago to Phoenix.

Re: Reds done in Sarasota?

Josh is right. It wouldn't be as bad of business move as some might think. I met up with Josh at a Reds/D-Backs in Phoenix last season and was amazed at the number of Reds fans in attendance. Also, many Midwesterners would definitely be looking to travel to AZ in March. I would definitely love to come visit agan!

Re: Reds done in Sarasota?

Dayton to Phoenix is 1900 miles (I would know having driven it a few weeks ago). Having spent now a month out here I think it would be great if the Reds did move out here. It seems like there are other spring training facilities all over and the weather is always dryer than Florida. Personal preference, though, would be to see the Reds stay in Florida. Florida is a more manageable trip for a spring break situation and although I'm sure I'll have a lot of friends out here by the end of the summer I'd still find it easier to go to Florida.

Re: Reds done in Sarasota?

Originally Posted by Eric in IL

Josh is right. It wouldn't be as bad of business move as some might think. I met up with Josh at a Reds/D-Backs in Phoenix last season and was amazed at the number of Reds fans in attendance. Also, many Midwesterners would definitely be looking to travel to AZ in March. I would definitely love to come visit agan!

Eric! - Good to see you buddy - Long time no chat - I always tell you that you need to post more

You and your wife are always welcome out here to stay with us - Reds Spring Training Road Trip 2008?

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